Nigerian president applauds Tunde Onakoya for breaking chess marathon record
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya, who has broken the record for the longest chess marathon.
Mr. Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon on Saturday after playing for over 58 hours and winning every match in tow.
President Tinubu celebrates the Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for the rare feat, but especially for the reason driving this compelling demonstration of character, which is raising funds for African children to learn and find opportunity through chess.
Onakoya hopes to raise $1 million for charity to support chess education for millions of children.
The President explained that Mr. Onakoya has shown, as is customary among Nigeria’s youth population, the audacity to make good change happen, to baffle impossibility, and to propel innovations and solutions to the nation’s challenges, even from corners of disadvantage.
He highlighted Nigeria’s youths remarkable achievements in Afrobeats, Nollywood, the pulsating skit-making enterprise, education, science, and technology, that great exploits can truly come from small quarters.
Mr Tinubu assures all citizens that his administration remains strongly committed to creating and expanding opportunities for the youth to explore and exercise their abilities and become the symbols of greatness our nation represents into the future.
The Nigerian chess master broke the record previously set by two Norwegian players at 56 hours, nine minutes, and 37 seconds, according to Guinness World Records.
